Where does Gephardt's labor support go?

[UrbScotty]

All of them will probably receive some labor backing as a result of Gephardt's withdrawal. Who stands to gain the most from the labor community with Gephardt's exit?

[rbrussell]

1. It Goes Everywhere -NT-

[displacedtexan]

2. I heard...

that they had already moved into the Kerry camp after Iowa.

[kentuck]

3. Most of the labor support was already divvied up...

Not just Gephardt, but Kerry and Dean both had substantial union support. If Gephardt had been able to lasso all the unions, he would probably still be in the race.

[TopesJunkie]

4. True. Gephardt's Unions will likely pick and choose --

No one candidate will take them all.

[spooky3]

5. If Iowa voters were any indication, all of the candidates would likely

split them. Data from MSNBC exit poll:

Do you or does someone else in your household belong to a labor union?

Category % Total Clark Dean Edwards Gephardt Kerry Kucinich Lieberman Sharpton Uncommitted
Yes 23 1 19 22 22 29 4 0 0 3
No 77 1 21 27 8 37 4 0 0 2

[UrbScotty]

8. I'm talking about the support Gephardt had. (nt)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. So it naturally follows

that the unions that were supporting Gep, and there were a lot of them, would tend to look towards Dean or Kerry.

[tryanhas]

6. That poll is nothing more than a popularity contest!

It went to Edwards on caucus night so why do any of you think it would go to Kerry???

Wishful thinking obviously...

[TopesJunkie]

7. How would Gephardt's unions go to Edwards on caucus night?

[spooky3]

9. my point is (as made by others) Gephardt thought he would get

most of the union vote, or at least split it with Dean. He did get some of it, but a lot went to other candidates, but they did not all go to the same candidate. That suggests to me that, now that he is out of the race, they will not all go to one candidate.

See this for details:

Labor Among Iowa's Big Losers

snip
"Labor organizations backing Gephardt and Dean brought hundreds of organizers into Iowa, where about 50,000 union members are registered Democrats eligible to vote in the caucuses. Despite that effort, a plurality of union members, 29 percent, backed Kerry. Dean and Edwards tied for second place with 22 percent each, and Gephardt got only 19 percent, according to surveys of caucus-goers."

snip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33448-2004Jan20.html

[TopesJunkie]

10. Umm. Yeah, that's what I said already --

My reply wasn't to you, so I don't understand your reply to me.

[no name no slogan]

11. Kucinich has the edge

He's a card-carrying union member already. Plus, he's got the endorsements of many locals. Also, of his non-individual contributors, 9 out of ten are unions.

All he needs to do is capitalize on his existing support, and use that to get further support. He's already strongest on labor issues in opposing NAFTA and the WTO.

The difficult part, as always, is spreading the message.

[LuminousX]

12. Bush.

[UrbScotty]

14. Huh? (nt)

[anti-bush]

13. What I heard

A well placed person in Iowa told me the the AFSCME, UAW, and Teamsters at the local level were not necessarily following the national level endorsements. There was at least one State President who privately endorsed somebody different from the national president. And at the local level there were even more departures. I wish I could say more, but it wouldn't be in my best interest, the unions, or the person who relayed this to me. (I realize this will be labeled unsubstantiated proof).

Some of those did come to Edwards, and we had some good Union turnouts for Edwards because of that.

Don't forget that the Unions are not mindless sheep. There are politics that go on between the National, State, and Local levels and sometimes there are some very big rifts.

[Auntie Bush]

16. I think the union vote may go to Clark because

they originally were going to endorse Clark (so I hear) but were pissed with him for not running in Iowa and went for Dean who was actually their second choose. Maybe they have forgiven or punished him enough and will vote for someone who can beat Bush.

OH...Hi anti-bush

[ajacobson]

17. Nobody until March

Once burned, twice shy.

The big unions will probably wait until after Super Tuesday (3/2).

[corporatewhore]

18. maybe not official endoresment but i think kucinch becuase

of his life long fight for labor and his promise to cancel wto nafta

[JohnKleeb]

19. If we get them, that would be great CW

[genius]

20. Kucinich, then Edwards have the highest labor ratings. Kerry is third.

Dean's really bad on labor.